Ian Mackaye recently made a guest appearance at the Upright Citizens Brigade's new U.C.B.East space in New York City's East Village, for the theater's grand opening. The format of the show features a monologue based on a random word given by an audience member, and improvised skits based on the monologue; MacKaye was invited to tell the monologues for the opening night.

Mr. MacKaye, standing in the club's narrow green room, seemed satisfied with his unlikely foray into comedy. "I'd never heard of it, I had no idea why I was asked," he said of the Upright Citizens Brigade. "It was a very interesting, and, I think, healthy, pleasant experience. I was very happy to be invited. It totally felt natural, and it made sense to me."

I had an Ethics professor in college who looked and sounded EXACTLY like Ian Roberts. He'd be talking about Kant and the categorical imperative and I'd be hearing it via the Ass Pennies guy. It was bizarre.